Extensible cot



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFroE.

JOHN C. FIGEL, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

EXTENSIBLE COT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 541,157, dated June 18, 1895.

Application filed March 6, 1895. Serial No. 540,693. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN C. FIGEL, acitizen of the United States, residing at Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen, in the State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extensible Cots; and I do here by declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whichform part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in extensible cots.

The object of my invention is to provide a folding and extensible cot of simple and economical construction, easily repaired,readily handled in setting up for use, and so arranged as to occupy but a small space when folded, adapted to be conveniently used for either a childs bed or readily extended to a proper size for an adult, so arranged that the mattress supporting canvas forming the bed-bottom, will automatically roll up out of the dust and dirt, as well as out of the way when not in use, and when in use will be securely but removably fastened at its sides in such a manner as not to tear out under the weight of its occupant.

My invention comprises head and footboards, each formed of a singlebent piece of wood, one being adapted to fold within the other, and rigidly connected when extended for use by folding and removable side-rails, and a supporting canvas mounted upon a spring pressed roller rotatably mounted upon the head-board and having its other end rigidly secured to the foot-board, and adapted to be detachably secured to the said side-rails when in use. p

In the accompanying drawings similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is an end view of my improvement but slightly extended without the side rails, showing the springpressed canvasmounted roller in position. Fig 2 is a crosssection of the same. Fig. 3 is a side view of the folding and removable side rails, partly broken away, and showing in dotted outline their relative position when used for a childs cot. Fig. 4 is a side view of myimprovement when fully extended for use, somewhat reduced in size, showing the manner of mounting the side rails and of securing the canvas. Fig. 5 is a detail plan of the canvas in position on the side rails.

The principal parts of the supporting frame are of wood and of proper dimensions, strength and proportions.

The head-board l of one piece of wood, preferably formed of a suitable buggy-bow, is braced and strengthened by the metallic crosspiece 3 rigidly mounted upon the outer face thereof, and provided upon itsinner face with a second wooden cross piece 5 rigidly fixed thereon and provided with a proper number of pins Mto which one end of the canvas is secured to relieve the spring-pressed roller 'of all strain from the weight of the occupant, in a manner hereinafter explained. The said head-board or bow 1 is also provided with an oblique outwardly projecting and supporting brace or leg 13, fixed upon the lengthwise central portion of the said crosspiece 5, as seen in Fig. 2, and is also provided with a pair of vertical brackets 25 rigidly fixed upon the sides thereof, as seen in Figs. 1, 2, and 4:, and adapted to hold the folding side-rails when my improvement is not in use, or is packed up for shipment. The said headboard or bow l is also provided witha pair of lateral outwardly extended brackets 11, rigidly fixed thereon as shown, in which the spring actuated roller 8 is rotatably mounted. The said roller 8 is of any proper and well known construction containing a coiled or other proper; retracting spring of proper strength adapted to automatically wind the canvas 10 thereon under the tension of said spring when the side-rails are detached. The

foot-board or bow 2 is also preferably formed of a suitable buggy bow, but so reduced in length and height as to stand within the head-bow 1, as seen in Fig. 1, when not extended, has a side-rail supporting cross-piece 4, and a vertically arranged block 6 secured in any proper manner, and having a slot 12 to receive the end ofa proper rod for extending the said foot-board into its extended position. Seen in Fig. 4. It is obvious that instead of the said block 6 an upright centrally arranged lug may be provided upon the said cross-bar 7. The supporting canvas 10 of proper strength and material is wound upon the said roller .8 under the tension of its actuating spring, having one end firmly secured to the cross-piece 7, rigidly fixed in the sides of the said bow 2.

The side-rails are each in two sections, 15 and 16 respectively, united at their abutting ends by any proper hinge 22 upon the lower position.

face thereof, whereby the said rails are adapted to fold up with their lower faces together, and have each a pair of pivotally mounted supporting legs 17 at or near the inner end of the said sections, as seen in Fig. 4.

'The hinged and folding sections 15 and 16 are each provided upon their outer ends with a pair of vertically disposed metallic plates 18 having upon their lower edge a vertical slot 26 adapted to receive the cross-bars 3 and 4 respectively, Figs. 4 and 5, whereby the outerends of the said rails are supported in The inner and hinged end of the said section 15 is also provided with a similar slotted-supporting plate 19 adapted to so pport the said end by engaging the cross-plate 4 when the said section 16 is folded, as seen in dotted outline in Fig. 3, and the foot-board 2 is extended only one-half way or into position for a childs cot. \Vhen the said side-rails are extended and in position, the said canvas is secured at each side to the pins 21 on said rails, by means of suitable metallic eyes 24 with which it is provided, Fig. 5, and the forward end thereof is also secured'to the pins 14 on the said cross-piece 5, thereby relieving the said roller 8 of all strain from the weight of the occupant. The canvas 10 is also provided at or near its lengthwise center with a transverse series of metallic eyes 27 by means of which it is secured to the said pins 14 on the cross-bar 5, when the said cot is extended into position fora childs cot or bed. The rail-section 15 is also provided with a hook adapted to engage a staple 23 on the rail section 16 when theyare folded together.

The operation and manner of using my improvement thus described are obvious and briefly stated are as follows: When not in use the side-rails are folded, fasten ed together by the hook 20 and the staple 23, and are then mounted in the said brackets 25. The canvas 10 will then be tightly rolled together upon the roller 8 under the tension of its actuating spring, where it will be out of the dirt, and dust and the foot-bow 2 will be contained within the head-bow 1 thus arranging the space. When it is desired to putitinto position for use the operator places one foot on the lower end of the brace 13 which holds.

the slot 12 of the block 6; and when the said foot-board has been fully extended the other end of the said rod is placed against the roller 8, thereby securing the said bows. in their extended position against the tension of the said spring-actuated roller. The siderails can now be conveniently placed inposition and the supporting canvas secured by means of the said pins and eyes. It is obvious that when the side-rails are removed the canvas will automatically wind itself upon the said roller and carry with it the foot-bow 2. In the same manner my im provement can be readily placed in position for a childs cot when desired. The said operating pole or rod, not shown in the drawings, is preferably made in two sections and when disconnected position in the said brackpiece 4, and the slotted block 6 for the operat-' ing rot], the hinged and folding side-rails having pivotal supporting legs at their central portion, and provided attheir extremities with the slotted supporting plates 18 adapted to engage the said supporting cross-pieces, the spring actuated roller 8 rotatably mounted on the head-board l'and adapted to automatically wind the canvas thereon, and the canvas 10 mounted as shown upon the said roller, having its outer end secured to the said crossrod 7 and provided with the holding metallic eyes 21 and 27 for the purpose specified, all substantially as described.

Signed by me, at Fort 'Wayne, State of Indiana, this 28th day of February, 1895.

JOHN C. FIGEL.

Witnesses:

LoUIs H. GooKE, WALTER G. BURNS.

rec W 

